Assistant coach and technical director Rob Vartughian followed Hackworth out the door Wednesday, with the club announcing it had relieved him of his duties.

That leaves interim coach Jim Curtin with just one assistant coach, Mike Sorber, who was hired earlier this year.

“We thank Rob for all of his contributions over the past five years with this club and wish him nothing but the best,” CEO and Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz said in a terse club statement.

If Sakiewicz’s statements Tuesday night are to be believed, this decision was Curtin’s.

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“It’s up to Jim,” Sakiewicz said Tuesday when asked about the fates and roles of the assistants. “I handed Jim the keys this morning and said it’s your bus to drive and you let me know how I can help you. Jim will be involved in the interview process, as a candidate. I’m just here to support the Jim the best way that I can.”

Whoever made the decision, Vartughian’s days were clearly numbered. Hired as the goalkeeping coach in January 2010 prior to the Union’s first game, Vartughian is one of the few remaining ties to Peter Nowak’s reign in Philadelphia. Vartughian’s title was updated in 2012 to technical director, though he lacked the role in personnel decisions that traditionally goes along with such a title.

The fact that Curtin, who was hired after the 2012 season, leap-frogged him into the interim position was a signal that Vartughian was on his way out.